3

3.

"He's got blue eyes," adds Amanda.

"He has not.'" declares Rosa. "His eyes are very light brown. I
ought to know -- I've been close to him!"

"I don't see why you can't marry a Cuban or an American -- anything
but an Italian," says Amanda.

"I do like Americans," admits Rosa. "Sure! But I can't do nothing
about it. The only way to get Americans is to be high-toned and live
in Hyde Park and I can't do that. I don't want any damn wild crackers
from out in the woods, either. They're wild people. You can grow pota-
toes in their ears and scrape their heels.

"Nicky is a beautician in New York and he came down here to visit
his family for the holidays. He has stayed so long he has lost his job,
and now he wants to go back to New York and get a job in a restaurant.
He wants to go back and get a job and then come marry me, but I want him
to marry me first and take me with him when he goes. I always wanted to
live in New York."

"She's only known him for three weeks," says Amanda, "and says she
is going to marry him. Well, marriage is like a lottery: you don't
know whether you win or lose till it's all over.

"I was married when I was 13 years old, just like Rosa. That's how
I know she's too young to think about getting married. She ought to be
in school."

"That's right," asserts Edith.

"You think I want to start back to school now?" demands Rosa.
"And go back to the seventh grade where my kid brother is now? Hell no!

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